Ampule



Dec 3, 1957 H. R. `JOHNSON 2,815,024

AMPULE Filed Aug. so, 1955 FI G. I` I4 A 7 'o United Sttes Patent AMPULEHoward R. Johnson, Collingswood, N. J., assignor to Howard JohnsonElectrostatics & Electronics, Inc., Pound, Va., a corporation ofVirginia Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,369

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-272) t This invention relates to ampules and has forits principal object the provision of an ampule for use with aplunger-type hypodermic syringe in which the medicine 1s dischargedparallel to the axis of the plunger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a disposable ampulecontaining a single treatment of any desired medication, the quantityusually being a cubic centlmeter.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an ampule which canbe used repeatedly with medication from a large container connected tothe ampule by tubing, .for example, but using a fresh disposable tip foreach inlection.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a prepackaged ordisposable ampule.

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section through a modified ampuleintended for automatic refilling and discharge.

The ampule comprises a head and an integral extension 11, the latterhaving therein a medication chamber 12 in which slides a piston 14 whichmay be attached to the plunger of the syringe (not shown) and for thispurpose the piston carries a threaded stem 15 for insertion in thethreaded end of the plunger. Since this piston may at times be theplunger of the syringe, as for example when the rod 40 is of lessdiameter than the piston 14, it is convenient to form the piston ofrubber and to provide annular grooves 16 in its periphery. The extension11 is preferably reduced in outer diameter at its rear end, as at 17, toiit within an annular guide against which the shoulder 18 strikes.

The head 10, as best seen in Figure 2, is cylindrical, but is cut awayon an arc 20 at the rear to provide room for a sterilizer (not shown).Within the head there is a conical recess 22 communicating with anopening 23 leading to the rear face 24 of the cut-away portion. Aslanting bore 25 leads from the forward circular base of the chamber 12to a point such as 26 in the conical surface of the recess. As thefilled ampule is sold, the recess 26 and the bore 25 are closed by aplastic or rubber plug 27 which fits tightly into the tapered recess toprevent the medication in chamber 12 and bore 25 from becoming ICCcontaminated. At the time of injection, the plug 27 is removed and isreplaced by a small, disposable tip 48.

Referring now to Figure 3, the extension 11 in both forms is identicalbut the head 10a in the modification is enlarged as at 30 to provide forcommunication with a large receptacle, not shown. The entry 32 iscontrolled by a ball 33 held against its seat by spring 34. its cage 35is screwed into the ampule by -rneans of a knurled flange 36 and plastictubing such as 38 is placed over the projecting sleeve or nipple 39 ofthe cage 35.

It is also necessary in this moditication to close the bore 25 as thepiston 14 attached to plunger 40 is Withdrawn or moved away from entry32. For this purpose I provide an outlet valve consisting of a ball 42closing the seat formed by a slight enlargement such as 44 of the bore25, the enlargement being preferably coaxial with the chamber. The ball42 is held to its seat by a spring 4S seated in a recess in plug 46. Theamp'ule body is preferably made of nylon, as this material istransparent and readily withstands the repeated sterilization necessary.

The operation of the device is as follows: With the chamber 12 filledwith the medication, the piston 40 is moved towards the discharge end ofthe chamber. This action seats the ball 33 rmly but pushes ball 42 olfits seat so the medication flows through bore 25 and to a disposable tip48 snugly tting the conical recess 22. On the reverse movement of thepiston or plunger the ball 42 is pressed rmly against its seat but ball33 moves downwardly and medication from the large container passes intothe chamber through entry 32. The disposable tip 48 may now be replacedand the device is again ready for use.

What I claim is:

l. An ampule comprising a cylindrical head having an opening in its rearface and a recess in its front face communicating with said opening andadapted to receive a disposable tip through which medication isdischarged, and also having a bore extending from the recess to a pointproximate the axis of the head, a coaxial integral hollow cylindricalextension forming a chamber for holding a medication, said chamber atits closed end communicating with said bore, a removable plug sealingthe recess and closing the opening, and a piston near the free open endof the chamber forming a stopper to close the chamber, the axis of therecess being farther from the axis of the ampule than the outer radiusof the extension and the bore extending from the axis of the chamber t0a conical surface of the recess.

2. The ampule of claim 1 in which the rear annular face of the head iscut away in an arc and the opening is a straight bore coaxial With therecess and at right angles to the rear cut-away face of the head.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BessesenApr. 17, 1917

